Paul Appeals to Caesar

25 Now when* Festus set foot in the province, after three days he went up to Jerusalem from Caesarea. 2 And the chief priests and the most prominent men of the Jews brought charges against Paul to him, and were urging him, 3 asking for a favor against him, that he summon him to Jerusalem, because they* were preparing an ambush to do away with him along the way. 4 Then Festus replied that Paul was being kept at Caesarea, and he himself was about to go there* in a short time. 5 So he said, “Let those among you who are prominent go down with me,* and* if there is any wrong in the man, let them bring charges against him.”

6 And after he* had stayed among them not more than eight or ten days, he went down to Caesarea. On the next day he sat down on the judgment seat and* gave orders for Paul to be brought. 7 And when* he arrived, the Jews who had come down from Jerusalem stood around him, bringing many and serious charges that they were not able to prove, 8 while* Paul said in his defense, “Neither against the law of the Jews nor against the temple nor against Caesar have I sinned with reference to anything!” 9 But Festus, because he* wanted to do a favor for the Jews, answered and* said to Paul, “Are you willing to go up to Jerusalem to be tried before me there concerning these things?” 10 But Paul said, “I am standing before the judgment seat of Caesar, where it is necessary for me to be judged. I have done no wrong to the Jews, as you also know very well. 11 If then I am doing wronga and have done anything deserving death, I am not trying to avoid* dying. But if there is nothing true of the things which these people are accusing me, no one can give me up to them. I appeal to Caesar!” 12 Then Festus, after* discussing this* with his* council, replied, “You have appealed to Caesar—to Caesar you will go!”

Festus Asks King Agrippa for Advice

13 Now after* some days had passed, King Agrippa and Bernice arrived at Caesarea to welcome Festus. 14 And while they were staying there many days, Festus laid out the case against Paul to the king, saying, “There is a certain man left behind by Felix as a prisoner, 15 concerning whom when* I was in Jerusalem the chief priests and the elders of the Jews presented evidence, asking for a sentence of condemnation against him. 16 To ⌊them⌋b I replied that it was not the custom of the Romans to give up any man before the one who had been accused met his* accusers face to face and received an opportunity for a defense concerning the accusation. 17 Therefore, when* they had assembled here, I made* no delay; on the next day I sat down on the judgment seat and* gave orders for the man to be brought. 18 When they* stood up, his* accusers began bringing* no charge concerning ⌊him⌋c of the evil deeds that I was suspecting, 19 but they had some issues with him concerning their own religion, and concerning a certain Jesus, who was dead, whom Paul claimed to be alive. 20 And because* I was at a loss with regard to the investigation concerning these things, I asked if he was willing to go to Jerusalem and to be judged there concerning these things. 21 But when* Paul appealed that he be kept under guard for the decision of His Majesty the Emperor, I gave orders for him to be kept under guard until I could send him to Caesar.” 22 So Agrippa said to Festus, “I want to hear the man myself also.” “Tomorrow,” he said, “you will hear him.”

23 So on the next day, Agrippa and Bernice came with great pageantry and entered into the audience hall, along with military tribunes and the most prominent men of the city. And when* Festus gave the order, Paul was brought in. 24 And Festus said, “King Agrippa and all who are present with us, you see this man about whom the whole population of the Jews appealed to me, both in Jerusalem and here, shouting that he must not live any longer. 25 But I understood that he had done nothing deserving death himself, and when* this man appealed to His Majesty the Emperor, I decided to send him.* 26 I do not have anything definite to write to my* lord about ⌊him⌋.d Therefore I have brought him before you all*—and especially before you, King Agrippa—so that after* this preliminary hearing has taken place, I may have something to write. 27 For it seems unreasonable to me to send a prisoner and not to indicate the charges against him.”